Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
See Your Entire Face 'Real Soon': Disney Dumps Mask Mandates
AP: Disney World: Face Masks Optional For All Areas Of Resort
Walt Disney World has lifted the last of its mask requirements, meaning face coverings will be optional for visitors at all locations on the central Florida Disney property. The rule change was posted Tuesday on Disney’s website. Masks are still recommended, though not required, for guests who are not fully vaccinated in indoor locations and enclosed transportation. (4/19)
And in school mask updates —
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS Reinstates Mask Requirement After Two Days Of Optional Policy
Milwaukee Public Schools announced Tuesday night that masks would again be required beginning Wednesday, after just one school-day of a mask-optional policy in the district. MPS Superintendent Keith Posley had announced in March that masks would no longer be required for staff and students beginning Monday. Students had the day off Monday but had a day of mask-optional school Tuesday. In a message to families Tuesday night, the district noted the mask requirement would be back in place Wednesday due to COVID spread in the city. (Linnane, 4/19)
AP: Hawaii Students Must Wear Masks As Same Rule For Travel Ends
Hawaii public school students must continue wearing masks in classrooms despite state officials lifting the same rules for airports and public transportation following Monday’s federal judge decision to remove mask requirements on U.S. flights. Masks are no longer required in Hawaii airports, on city buses or in handicapped vans, but all public students will be required to wear masks through the end of the school year, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported Tuesday. (4/19)
Stateline: Parents Say Mask-Optional Policies Leave Out High-Risk Students
After South Carolina banned schools last spring from mandating masks, Amanda McDougald Scott removed her immunocompromised 5-year-old son from the Greenville County School District and enrolled him in a private eschool. But McDougald Scott felt strongly that public schools should be able to require masks to protect children with disabilities. So she joined eight other parents and two advocacy organizations in August in suing GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, state officials and seven other school districts over a state budget provision that prevented school districts from using state funds to impose mask mandates. After a legal battle, a federal appeals court in January allowed the provision to stand, in a victory for the state officials. (Wright, 4/19)
